Trinity CEO Gilfillan to Step Down in June

Veteran health system executive Michael Slubowski, Trinity's president and COO, will become the Livonia, Michigan-based health system's next CEO, effective July 1, 2019.

Trinity Health CEO Richard J. Gilfillan, MD, said Tuesday that he will leave the Livonia, Michigan-based the health system in June 2019 after five years at the helm.

Trinity President and COO Michael Slubowski was named by the health system's board to become the next CEO, effective July 1, 2019.

Gilfillan, who is also a primary care physician, told the board in September that he was tired of commuting from his home in Washington, DC, and wanted to spend more time with his family. The board initiated a succession plan and Slubowski was elected unanimously on Dec. 5, according to a media release.

Gilfillan said he was "extraordinarily privileged" to serve as CEO for the non-profit, Catholic health system over the past five years.

"The board’s vision is for Trinity Health to lead nationally in creating a high-value health system. While we have made significant progress toward that goal there is still much work to be done," Gilfillan said. "Mike Slubowski has been a great partner over these past 18 months and is committed to continuing that effort."

Gilfillan joined Trinity Health as CEO in November 2013, following the merger with Catholic Health East in May 2013.

At that time, the health system had 82 hospitals and 89 continuing care locations in 21 states with annual operating revenue of $13.3 billion. In 2018, Trinity had 94 hospitals and 109 continuing care locations in 22 states with operating revenue of $18.3 billion.

"Rick's bold and innovative leadership has transformed Trinity Health from a system focused primarily on acute care to an accountable, people-centered health system that provides outstanding episodic care, population health management and community health and well-being services to address the social determinants of health," Trinity Health Board Chair James Bentley said in prepared remarks.

Slubowski, a veteran hospital executive, was named Trinity Health president and COO in May 2017. Before that, he was president and CEO of SCL Health. Before that, he was president of Hospital and Health Networks at Trinity Health and had worked at Trinity Health for 13 years. He also spent 10 years at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, where he was vice president of Ambulatory Satellites and Prepayment Programs.

"We are fortunate that Mike already has been deeply involved in Trinity Health operations for the past two years," Bentley said. "We know that he is committed to executing our people-centered health system strategy. As evident in his selection as the board chair of the Catholic Health Association, we also know that he is deeply committed to the mission of Catholic health care."

Trinity provides care for more than 6 million people each year through an integrated health system that includes 7,800 physicians and advanced practitioners. Trinity's Clinically Integrated Networks include 15,000 physicians and clinicians serving 1.3 million people.